Investing in
21st Century Policing to prevent and tackle crime in both urban and rural communities

PPP projects to deliver state of-the-art
Family/Children Courts Complex in Dublin and new Garda station construction
nationwide

€46 million for new Garda
vehicles

Major additional investment of €205m in
Garda Síochána technology and systems

€18
million for refurbishment of Garda stations

Funding
for development of new Forensic Science Laboratory

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for
Justice and Equality has today welcomed the unprecedented allocation of €875
million in capital funding along with approval for further public-private
partnership projects in respect of An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service. The
Minister sets-out the strategic objectives for the planned investment in the
Justice sector as outlined in the Government Capital Plan 2016-21. “This allocation
demonstrates this Government’s commitment to investing in 21st
Century policing, by ensuring An Garda Síochána have the vehicles and
technology to be effective, mobile and responsive to prevent and tackle crime in
both urban and rural communities.”

“This investment will also finally ensure
appropriate state-of-the-art facilities where family law cases can be heard
through the construction of a new state-of-the-art Family & Children’s Court
complex at Hammond Lane in Dublin.”In total, €875 million in capital funding has been
allocated to the Justice sector with further approval and funding for
public-private partnership projects.·
A total allocation of €46 million is
being provided for new Garda vehicles;·
A major additional investment of
€205m is being made in new Garda Síochána technology and systems;· €18m is being provided for Garda Station
refurbishment;· Funding is to be provided for the construction of a much
needed new Forensic Science Laboratory at a site at Backweston, outside
Lucan.· €10m is being provided for Courts refurbishments.

The additional Public Private
Partnership projects will include:·
New Garda projects and
facilities;· Development of state-of-the-art Family Law and Children’s
Courts building, together with additional Court rooms for the Supreme Court and
other Courts offices, to be developed on the Hammond Lane site, in Dublin,
adjacent to the Four Courts.

Investing in 21st Century Policing – New
Garda vehicles and ICT systemsMinister Fitzgerald welcomed the total allocation of €46
million for Garda vehicles.

Minister Fitzgerald said that: “the substantial
investment of €46 million for new Garda vehicles proves this Government’s
ongoing priority commitment to ensure that the Garda fleet is modern, effective
and fit-for-purpose.”

Funding will be provide for both regular Garda patrol
vehicles as well as specialist, high-power vehicles for targeted
operations.The Minister added: “Access to new and
modern vehicles is vital in ensuring Gardai can be mobile, responsive and
visible in the community, both urban and rural."

"In terms of rural policing our priority has
been focussed on delivering highly-mobile and responsive Garda patrols in rural
communities which are being supported by this Government’s ongoing high level of
investment in new vehicles.”Since
2012, this Government has invested nearly €29 million in new Garda vehicles with
370 new Garda vehicles having come on stream since the start of this year. In
addition Minister Fitzgerald recently allocated €700,000 to An Garda Síochána to
purchase new specialised vehicles to support frontline Gardaí responding to
current and emerging crime threats, including burglaries committed by
highly-mobile gangs. This is also supported by the separate recent allocation of
€1.75 million to upgrade surveillance equipment on Garda aircraft, including
infra-red cameras for night-time use which will greatly enhance the capacity of
Gardaí to monitor and track highly-mobile gangs and tackle night-time
burglars.

Minister Fitzgerald
welcomed the additional allocation of €205 million for Garda ICT systems and
technology. This will bring the overall Garda ICT funding to €330 million over
the lifetime of the capital plan.

The Minister stated: “The substantial additional
investment of €205 million in new technology and systems for An Garda Síochána
delivers on my commitment to progress important reforms of An Garda Síochána on
foot of last year’s comprehensive report from the Garda Síochána
Inspectorate.“This is an area which has been
long-neglected, but with this investment we will consign outdated paper-based
practices to the dustbin and equip our police service for the digital
era.“This breakthrough allocation will deliver
new system which will ensure a more responsive and coordinated deployment of
Gardai in the community and improved Garda response times. It will underpin
better supports for victims and it will greatly strengthen An Garda Síochána’s
capacity for major crime investigation and enhance intelligence-led policing,
all of which are key to better crime prevention and safer communities in our
cities and rural towns and villages.” Examples of the new integrated systems to be developed
through this investment include:

·
New Computed Aided Dispatch system –
to ensure more responsive and coordinated deployment of Gardai in the community
and to improve Garda response times;·
Mobile technology - to give Gardaí
secure mobile access to critical information when and where they need it.· Investigations Management Systems - to ensure enhanced
management of crime investigations;·
Extending the rollout of Automated
Number Plate Recognition (APNR) - to enhance and upgrade the existing system to
enhance policing of road safety and compliance;

These and other new technology solutions for use by Gardai will cut back
on the amount of time involved in paperwork, so that Gardai can spend more time
engaged in front-line policing.

The Garda Commissioner is currently finalising a
detailed, multi-annual Transformation Strategy which will provide a further
roadmap for the planned investment. This will be underpinned with robust
governance structures and take account of the recommendations arising from
various reports into An Garda Síochána, most notably those by the Garda Síochána
Inspectorate.

New
and refurbished Garda stationsIn addition to the ongoing construction of three new
Divisional Headquarters in Kevin Street, Dublin, Galway city and Wexford Town,
€18 million is being provided for the refurbishment of Garda stations throughout
the country.Minister Fitzgerald stated: “This funding
will prove invaluable in allowing us to modernise and refurbish older Garda
stations at key locations around the country, ensuring safe, modern working
environment for Gardai as well as fit-for-purpose facilities for visitors,
victims and suspects.”

However, the Minister added that “there is
significant construction/redevelopment work needed in relation to certain Garda
stations throughout the country which is critical to delivering effective
policing service and to tackle crime.

“Accordingly, a new PPP project will be developed
to provide new Garda stations and facilities such as modern PEMS (Property and
Exhibit Management Stores) in a number of Garda stations throughout the country.
Further details of this project will be announced in due course.”New Forensic Science LaboratoryMinister Fitzgerald welcomed the provision of
funding for the development and fit-out of a new Forensic Science Laboratory at
a site in Backweston, outside Lucan.The
Minister stated:“This development will strengthen the Laboratory’s
capacity to meet the realities and demands of 21st century criminal
investigations and allow for necessary expansion following the forthcoming
introduction of the DNA database.”

New Courts Complex at Hammond LaneMinister Fitzgerald welcomed the plans
for a new Public-Private Partnership to deliver on the Government’s proposals
for a dedicated and integrated Family Law and Children’s Courts building,
together with additional Court rooms for the Supreme Court and other Courts
offices, at a site at Hammond Lane, in Dublin. The Minister stated: “This Government has overseen
landmark reforms in the areas of family law and children. We have enacted the
Children and Family Relationships Act which provides for the most comprehensive
reform of family law since the foundation of the State. We also brought forward
both the Children’s and Marriage Equality referenda and established Tusla,
Ireland’s first dedicated Child and Family Agency, I have recently published new
consolidated legislation to update the laws on domestic violence.“It is only right that as we update our laws, we
should also update our Courts infrastructure. I am very conscious of the
concerns expressed by the judiciary, legal practitioners and victims groups in
relation to the poor state and set-up of many Family Court facilities. The need
of a new state-of-the-art family law and children's complex in Dublin has been a
key priority for me as Minister.

"I am delighted to now be in a position to confirm
that a Family Law and Children’s Courts complex will be delivered at Hammond
Lane as part of a new PPP project."

"I wish to thank my colleague, Minister of State
Simon Harris and the Office for Public Works for their support and hard work in
supporting and planning for this important project."

Prison BuildingsMinister Fitzgerald confirmed that funding is being
provided to the Irish Prison Service to complete the elimination of slopping out
in the prisons estate, with funding provided for essential building works,
including the completion of Limerick Prison and refurbishment work at E Block in
Portlaoise. This follows earlier investment in Mountjoy and a new prison in
Cork due to be completed this year. This outlay supports the priorities in the
IPS Strategic Plan and fulfils a key commitment in the Programme for Government.

Courthouse developmentsThe Capital Framework provides for the construction of
seven courthouses which are included in the existing Courts PPP building
project. The locations are Mullingar, Limerick, Cork, Letterkenny, Drogheda,
Wexford and Waterford. In addition €10 million is provided in exchequer funding
for Courts building refurbishment.

The Minister concluded: "These investments will
deliver significant improvement to the way public services are delivered in the
Justice sector and all the projects will be subject to robust governance and
oversight."